Tuesday, December 22, 2015

The PACKAGES are wrapped. . .and under the tree. . .The BAKING is done. . .and tempting my SWEET TOOTH daily. . .The TURKEY is smoked and ready to be sliced. . .CHRISTMAS CARDS are in the mail. . .OUR OLD COUNTRY STORE shipped it's last loom for Christmas Monday. . .it's 'doors' closed until December 28th. . .and the HOUSE. . .well. . .it's fairly clean. . .(grin). . .Only a few items to pick up at the market. . .John and I will do the last minute prep on Christmas Eve. . .and watch WHITE CHRISTMAS while sipping sparkling cider and munching on goodies later that night. . .CHRISTMAS DAY will bring our guests. . .It will be a day to relax and to enjoy each other. . .I've come to TREASURE our PLAIN AND SIMPLE CHRISTMASES. . .

"Dear Mother. . .I am writing to you this CHRISTMAS EVE with a HAPPY HEART. . .I don't know what comes over me each year at HOLIDAY time. . .There is something MAGICAL that settles over our farms. . .Even the animals seem to sense it. . .You know how much I LOVE Christmas. . .CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

CHRISTMAS was never Christmas without Mom's HOMEMADE FUDGE. . .She made it the old way. . .on top of the stove. . .boiling SUGAR and CHOCOLATE and BUTTER until it formed a soft ball (never could get that technique down). . .Then taking it off the heat and 'beating' the fudge by hand until it began to harden. . .Next. . .the PECANS went in. . .and all was turned out into a greased pan to cool. . .It WAS delicious. . .I'm sorry to say, I never learned the technique. . .It was one of those things where Mom always did it and I felt no need to try it for myself. . .I'm sure there are plenty of RECIPES in the older COOKBOOKS but honestly I'm not tempted to try. . .not since I perfected a recipe that pleases myself and John and is always a hit at the church BAKE SALE. . .I've never divulged my SECRET. . .until now. . .

Thursday, December 10, 2015

I have 'TONS' of family CHRISTMAS MEMORIES. . .in the form of decorations. . .Christmas décor was the one and only thing that my MOTHER did not throw out. . .She was never a collector 'pack rat' like my DAD and I were. . .She had TREE ORNAMENTS that dated back to my childhood. . .each year adding to them. . .I was always the crafty one who made ornaments every year. . .decorated packages to the point that the outside was as much a GIFT as the inside. . .Mom saved as many as possible. . .along with everything else 'CHRISTMAS'. . .

That time of the year at the Duncan home was so FESTIVE. . .A CHRISTMAS TREE in almost every room. . .PARTIES. . .BAKING. . .HOMEMADE GIFTS. . .Lots of WHISPERING going on. . .CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS at the church and school. . .ANTICIPATION for the BIG DAY. . .

The PRE-CHRISTMAS time was as FESTIVE as the actual day. . .

When CHRISTMAS DAY did arrive, our entire FAMILY--and extended family--came together. . .always at 'GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE'. . .which later became our home, too. . .and where the gathering continued for years so come. . .

I remember the WOMEN in the kitchen. . .putting the last touches on the Christmas feast. . .the COUSINS (all boys) sneaking off and getting into mischief. . .the MEN getting caught up on the recent harvest and politics. . .DADDY moving from room to room with his camera. . .taking photos and documenting the day. . .photos that would mean so much to all of us years later. . .

The house was ablaze with LIGHTS and CANDLES and JOY and CHEER and all those things we sing about every Christmas even now. . .

THIS CHRISTMAS 2015, I began pulling out all the boxes of MEMORIES. . .not only collected by MOM. . .but also the ones I inherited from my AUNTS. . .and my GRANDMOTHERS. . .Boxes and boxes of them. . .many of which will end up being donated to the museum. . .a Christmas past LEGACY for future generations. . .But there are a few outdoor ones I selected to display one more time. . .in CELEBRATION of my Mother's life.

You see. . .We lost MOM this day. . .eleven years ago. . .and DADDY the next year. . .No Christmas has ever been the same. . .Not the same. . .very different. . .and then--finally--it became a celebration once again. . .a CELEBRATION that cannot be enjoyed without Wonderful Memories of Christmas Past. . .but also in APPRECIATION and joy for Christmas Present

Although MEMORIES flood my mind. . .I am once again full of HOPE and JOY and CELEBRATION of the season. . .of family and present friends. . .Of continuing to make Christmas memories. . .And in it all, recognizing this really is. . .

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Thought I'd drop in and quickly give a HEAD'S UP. . .I just posted six more MINI RAG RUG LOOM GIFT SETS. . .Hope to have a few 2N1 LOOM GIFT SETS later this week, too. . .Last week all were gone in 30 minutes!

The ELVES (me and Boo) were busy over the cold and rainy weekend. . .making more MINI LOOM GIFT SETS. . .and a few 2N1 GIFT SETS, too. . .The larger sets are not quite finished. . .and not all of the minis either. . .but I couldn't wait to put A FEW online for you. . .They are so much fun to make. . .but can be time-consuming. . .getting each little detail right. . .